Deploy and Host Velix API on Railway 🚀

Velix API is an open-source, self-hosted WhatsApp REST API solution that enables multi-instance WhatsApp management (Dokploy Docs).

What is Velix API?

Velix API is an open-source, self-hosted WhatsApp REST API solution designed for multi-instance WhatsApp management. It allows developers and businesses to programmatically send and receive messages, manage multiple phone numbers, listen to webhooks, and integrate with automation tools like n8n and Chatwoot without incurring per-message API fees.

About Hosting Velix API

Hosting and deploying Velix API involves running a lightweight Docker container image (GitHub Container Registry) connected to a PostgreSQL database for multi-instance metadata and a Redis instance for session caching, queues, and rate-limiting. A persistent storage volume mounted to /data is essential to preserve local WhatsApp session state files (/data/instances) and uploaded media (/data/media) across container restarts. Deploying Velix API requires setting key environment variables including DATABASE_URL, REDIS_URL, JWT_SECRET, and exposing HTTP port 8080. With modern PaaS platforms like Railway (Railway), developers can provision the app container, database, and Redis in a single unified project canvas without manually configuring VPS networks, SSL certificates, or server firewalls.

Common Use Cases

📱 Multi-Instance WhatsApp Automation: Manage multiple WhatsApp Business accounts from a single backend API for customer support, marketing campaigns, and transactional messaging.
🤖 Chatbot & AI Agent Integration: Connect WhatsApp directly to n8n workflows, Typebot, or custom AI agents to handle automated customer inquiries 24/7.
💬 Omnichannel Customer Support: Integrate WhatsApp message streams with Chatwoot or custom CRM software to enable support teams to collaborate on customer conversations.

Dependencies for Velix API Hosting

🐘 PostgreSQL: Stores persistent application metadata, instance configurations, and user authentication records.
⚡ Redis: Manages fast in-memory session caching, message queueing, and rate-limiting across instances.
💾 Persistent Volume (/data): Retains WhatsApp session keys (/data/instances) and uploaded media (/data/media).

Deployment Dependencies

Implementation Details

The Railway template architecture provisions three linked services directly on the Railway project canvas:

1. Service: `velix-api`

Image: ghcr.io/paulolinder/velix-api:0.1.0
Volume Mount: /data
Environment Variables:

PORT=8080
HTTP_PORT=8080
APP_ENV=production
LOG_LEVEL=info
DATABASE_URL=${{Postgres.DATABASE_URL}}
REDIS_URL=${{Redis.REDIS_URL}}
JWT_SECRET=${{secret(64)}}
MEDIA_STORAGE_PATH=/data/media
ENGINE_STORE_PATH=/data/instances
ENGINE_AUTO_RECONNECT=true
ENGINE_MAX_INSTANCES=200
REGISTRATION_ENABLED=false

2. Service: `Postgres`

Image: ghcr.io/railwayapp-templates/postgres (Railway Postgres Template)
Volume Mount: /var/lib/postgresql/data

3. Service: `Redis`

Image: redis:8.2.1
Volume Mount: /data

⚖️ Comparison with Similar Platforms

WhatsApp API Solution Comparison

Feature / Aspect	Velix API	Evolution API	Official WhatsApp Cloud API
Architecture	Lightweight REST API	Dual-Engine (Baileys + Cloud API)	Meta Cloud Infrastructure
Cost / Pricing	100% Free / Self-hosted	100% Free / Self-hosted	Paid per conversation (Meta pricing)
Multi-Instance Support	Supported	Supported	Requires WABA Business Accounts
Resource Footprint	Low / Efficient	Moderate to High	Managed by Meta
Integrations	n8n, Chatwoot, Webhooks	Typebot, Chatwoot, Dify, OpenAI	Custom Webhooks & Meta Partners
Setup Complexity	Simple & Straightforward	Moderate to High	High (Meta Verification required)

Hosting Infrastructure Comparison

Feature / Aspect	Railway PaaS	Traditional VPS (Dokploy / Coolify)
Deployment Method	1-Click Railway Canvas	Docker Compose / Manual Script
Infrastructure Management	Fully Managed	Self-Managed (OS, Firewall, Backups)
SSL & Networking	Automatic HTTPS & Private Service Mesh	Manual Reverse Proxy (Traefik / Caddy)
Scaling	Instant Vertical & Horizontal Scaling	Manual VPS Resizing / Load Balancing
Maintenance Burden	Zero maintenance required	Requires ongoing OS & security patching

Why Deploy Velix API on Railway?

Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it.

By deploying Velix API on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway.